Consultancy: Household Economy Analysis (HEA) & Pre-Crisis Market Analysis Baseline Studies, Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Background

Oxfam is working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty.

In October 2017, Oxfam has started a Multi-Regional Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Program named “Strengthening Community Preparedness, Rapid Response and Recovery in Asia/Pacific Islands” that will be implemented Philippines (Asia); Salomon Islands and Vanuatu (Melanesia).  A similar program will be also conducted in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala (Central America).

In El Salvador and Philippines, the programs foresee the implementation of Household Economy Approach (HEA) and Pre-Crisis Market Analysis (PCMA) studies. The combination of these studies aims at providing a better understanding of livelihoods and market systems, wealth and socio-economics dynamics, inform early warning and early action humanitarian responses, contingency planning and overall recommend Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience interventions.             

The combined use of these two tools is also in line with the Situation and Response Analysis Framework (SRAF), a project funded in 2014 by the ECHO- ERC consortium, formed by Oxfam, Save The Children and Concern Worldwide.

Oxfam is looking for high qualified consultants that will successfully conduct both studies, HEA and PCMA, in targeted location of Eastern Visayas, Philippines.

Geography

The HEA and PCMA studies will be conducted in the following municipalities: Salcedo, Quinapondan, Balangiga, and Lawaan - Provinces of Eastern Samar, Visayas Island, Philippines.

According to the Rapid Household Economy Assessment conducted by Oxfam and FEG (Food Economy Group) in 2014, those Municipalities are part of the Upland Coconut and Food crop (UCF) Livelihoods Zone.

Objectives

The HEA and PCMA studies conducted by the consultants are expected to:

Baseline Information & Programming

1. Confirm and update the Livelihood Zone Mapping for Eastern Visayas;
2. Provide a clear understanding of livelihoods systems, wealth determinants and socio-economic groups in specific targeted areas;
3. Provide a clear understanding of (2-3) market systems critical for the most vulnerable groups / population targeted by the project to inform appropriate program design, support access to food, safe water, and livelihood security for displacedpeople and families affected by natural disasters Those systems will include the supply of critical commodities / services and its value chains during emergencies as well as income related market systems for the target population. The critical market systems will be determined during the preparation and implementation of the studies; 
4. Consolidate existing information on market systems for selected critical markets, ensuring the inclusion of data generated in past and present projects to determine its current state and capacity to respond to demand in selected areas.
5. Provide recommendations for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Resilience interventions that can inform the “Strengthening Community Preparedness, Rapid Response and Recovery in Asia/Pacific Islands” program. Specific focus should be given to:
   • Food Security & Vulnerable Livelihoods aspects;
   • WaSH aspects;
   • Early Warning / Early Action, Contingency Planning;
   • Gender aspects
6. Provide Recommendations for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience interventions to the stakeholder working in the areas;
7. Integrate HEA and PCMA data into the monitoring and impact evaluation systems of the programme;

Capacity Building

1. Building capacities of key personnel (OXFAM, local partners and local Government) in conducting Pre-Crisis Market analysis (PCMA);
2. Building capacities of key personnel (OXFAM, local partners and local Government) in applying HEA outcome analysis (Dashboard – possibly LIAS) and PCMA baseline data for:
   • Early warning & early action, Contingency Planning – in line with the Situation and Response Analysis Framework (SRAF);
   • Need assessment and relief and early recovery interventions.    
3. Building capacities of key personnel (OXFAM, local partners and local Government) integrating the use of innovativeprogramming in combining different types of direct and indirect interventions as appropriate

Deliverables

The consultancy is expected to produce:

1. A comprehensive Livelihoods Zone Profiling and PCMA Report with the following main contents:
   • Zone description
   • Markets and basic services
   • Timeline and reference year
   • Seasonal calendar
   • Wealth group breakdown
   • Sources of Food
   • Sources of Income
   • Expenditure patterns
   • Gender consideration
   • Hazards
   • Response strategies
   • Key parameter for monitoring
   • Programme Implication
2. Annexes
   • PCMA baseline study in emergency & normal years  for the 2-3 critical market systems identified;
   • Recommendations for the “Strengthening Community Preparedness, Rapid Response and Recovery in Asia/Pacific Islands”program, with specific focus on: Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience, Food security & Vulnerable Livelihoods, WaSH and Gender;
   • Recommendations for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience interventions to the stakeholder working in the areas

3. Dashboard, BSS & LIAS sheets;

4. 2 workshops (1 in Eastern Visayas and 1 Manila) where the methodology and the main findings of the studies will be presented to project team (Oxfam & Partners), local Government and other stakeholders;

5. Training to project team (Oxfam & Partners), local Government and other stakeholders on PCMA.  The training will use the approach “learning by doing”. The participants will support the consultant on data collection and analysis assuming different roles - team leaders, data collector etc. - depending on their previous experience on market analysis and baseline studies;

6. Training on HEA outcome analysis using Dashboard (& LIAS) for:

   • Early warning and early action response / contingency planning – This should be in line with SRAF model
   • Impact Evaluation
   • Resilience programming

Issues to consider

Specific analytical questions to be addressed by the studies will be further developed during preparation and implementation.  Here we do present a frame of questions the studies will narrow:

• What are the main livelihoods characteristics of the population living in project area?
• What are the disasters (i.e. type, severity, frequency) that are chronically affecting this population?
• What are the most vulnerable groups affected by those disaster? Within the most vulnerable groups, what are the differences in how men and women, young and elderly are affected by disasters?
• In times of disaster what basic services are usually cut off and what services residents can access?
• What is the role (if any) of SMEs in the provision of services and employment opportunities operating in the areas and how are they impacted by disasters?
• In time of disaster, what kind of virtuous coping strategies and alternative livelihoods opportunities arise for women, men and the different socio-economic groups? How humanitarian and development agencies can support it?
• In time of   disasters (scenarios should be defined) what are the most appropriate intervention for saving lives, protecting and recovering livelihoods from an EFSVL & WaSH perspective? What key indicators Oxfam and its partners should use for monitoring EFSVL & WaSH situation in project area?
• In case of further natural disasters (scenarios should be defined) what actions are the most appropriate to mitigate impactsand build resilience of critical incomes and supply systems for the population targeted by the project?   
• Are there any livelihoods diversification activities that should be promoted by the program in order to build resilience to natural disasters for targeted group?

Timing & Schedule

The consultancy is expected to take place between April and June 2018, depending on consultants and Oxfam & partners availability (exact time will be determined)

The consultants should propose a tentative agenda and chronogram in line with the objectives and deliverables proposed in thisToR (see Application process)

We do foresee the HEA being implemented first in order to inform disaster scenarios and the selection of critical market systems for target population.

Management Arrangements

The consultants should report:

• To the DRR & Resilience Unit of Oxfam in Boston and Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator for all preparation work and reporting;
• To the Oxfam Philippines focal point for all field related work.

Logistic arrangements (i.e. transport, accommodation, renting of vehicles and training venues, organization of workshops etc.) will be discussed and agreed with the selected bidder. depending on the capacity of the consultants to run out it.

Resources Available

Oxfam will make available to the consultants relevant studies conducted in the area. This will include (but not limited to):

• Rapid HEA: Upland coconut and food crop Livelihoods Zone, Eastern Samar Province (Oxfam, FEG, 2014);
• WaSH & Markets Value chains analysis: MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT OF WASH-RELATED ENTERPRISES AND ENTREPRENEURS, Bantayan Island and Eastern Samar. (Oxfam, Bayan Academy, 2016);
• PCMA: Household Water treatment products and Loan and Credit services for the poor market systems  Eastern Samar, Philippines (Oxfam,2015);
• Market Research for WASH and Markets Program in Eastern Samar (Brand Philosophy, Oxfam, 2016)

Consultancy Team Specification

• At least 5 years’ experience in conducting HEA, with demonstrated competencies in the applications mentioned in ToR;
• At least 3 years of experience in conducting PCMA with demonstrated competencies in the applications mentioned in ToR;
• Must be fluent in English;
• High level of facilitation, participatory training and teamwork skills in relation to HEA & PCMA;
• Good documentation and report writing ability;
• Must have good reference from other INGO / UN clients in relation to HEA and PCMA
• Previous experience of working in Philippines (desirable)